Charles errett



C. ERRETT.'

PACKAGE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 3|, 1916 11 1 4 34; Patented Aug. 26, 1919.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

A V- W ii" "."FU'

C. ERRETT.

PACKAGE.

APPLICATION mp0 MAR. a1. 1916.

1,314,1 34:. Patented Aug. .26, 1919.

2 SHEETSSHEET 2.

@dma, 55am- BY l the appended claims.

of a slightly different package with UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES ERRETT, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR TO PUBLIC SERVICE COMPANY,

' OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

PACKAGE.

Specification ofLetters-Patent.

Patented Aug. 26, 1919.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES Emza'rr, a subject-of the King of GreatBritain and Ireland, and a resident of the borough and county ofRichmond, city and State of New York, have invented certain new anduseful Improvements in Packages; of which the following is aspecification.

My improvement relates to packages of merchandise and more articularlyto packages of individual aseptic drinking cups and the like and tofixtures whereby such packages may be supported in a osition for readyaccessibility for use. Tie object of my invention is to provlde animproved package containing a predetermined number of cups or the likeand whereby said cups or the like or at least the open ends thereof areat all times protected against contamination and in which rovision ismade for the individual removal of each cup or the like from the,package after the latter has been broken or unsealed. My invention willbe fully described hereinafter and the feattires of novelty will bepointed out in Reference is to be had to" the accompanying drawingswhich illustrate examples 01 my improvement and in which Figured is anelevation of a complete package; Fig. 2

unsealed with parts broken away; Fig.1? is a plan view of Fig. 2; Fig. 4is a detail v1ew arts broken away; Fig. 4 is a detail section s owing aslight variation; Fig.5 1s an elevation 'of one form of supportingfixture wlth an unsealed package of cups in position thereon; Fig. 6 isa plan view thereof; Fig. 7 is a detail view of a portion of the fixturewithout the package; 8 is an elevation of another form of fixtureshowing a package of cups thereon in section. and Fig. 9 is a plan viewof the latter fixture.

As shown in the drawings the package comprises a predetermined number ofcups 10 constructed in any well known way of customary material andstacked or nested together, said cups as is usually the case, taperingtoward their bottoms and having outwardly flaring annular rims 11 attheir open ends. These stacks of caps 10 are wrapped in a covering 12 ofparafiined or -wax paper or other more or less easily torn or rupturedmaterial which-may be water and weather proof and in any case comprisesa tubular protecting wrapper drawn tightly about the stack of-- cups.The opposite longit dinal edges of said covering 12 may be pas ed orotherwise secured together to form a tubular wrapper in which the stackof cups is contained. 1

The one end of the stack as shown in Fig. 4" may be covered with a capor the like 12 which extends over the open end of the one terminal cupand to which the wrapping 12 may be secured in any suitable manner as byfolding the one end thereof over the end face of said cap and thenfastening same in position in any desired way. Or as shown in Figs. 2and 4 the one end of said covering or wrapping 12 may simply be I tuckedor folded into the open end of the one terminal cup, while the other endof said covering may be folded in upon the closed end of the otherterminal cup to complete the package. This latterend of'the wrapper maybe secured in its turned or folded-in condition in any suitable manneras by means of a strip of paper or the like 13 pasted or otherwisesecured in position' and extending diametrically across the end of thepackage and preferably along the longitudinal surface thereof atdiametrically opposite points. In addition to the above the packageincludes a band 14 of paper or ot er material which is heavier or moredurable than the wrapper or covering 12 and which extendscircumferentially about the package and is preferably pasted orotherwise secured thereto throughout its length. In practice I prefer touse for this band 14 a product commonly known as gummed tape and whichis usually made of taught aper or of fabric and in any case ismaterially stronger than any part of the wrapper 12. The said band 14 islocated at an intermediate point of the package and in some cases asshown in Fig. 4 may be comor tension member 15 or said band itself maybe constructed of elastic, material. This rubher band, stiffening ortension member 15 may be secured to the band 14 or it may be separatelyplaced about the package beneath the said bandand in some cases may beutilized, in addition to its other functions, as a means for securingthe band 14 in position. It Will also be obvious that the band 14 itselfmay be constructed of elastic material and simply stretchedcircumferentially around the package.

In its initial and complete state the wrapper or'covering 12 not onlymaintains the cupsor the like 10 in a properly stacked condition againstrelative movement in an axial direction whereby a package of minimumdimensions and of maximum compactness is formed but said wrapperor-covering 12 also fully'protects all of'the cups against contaminationat least at'the vital points and thus maintains them in their intendedaseptic condition. When it is desired to use a cup the package is brokenby tearing the covering 12 away at the closed end of the .one terminalcup, and along the one edge of the band 14. In this manner all thatportion of-the covering 12 which is initially located -'betweenthe saidone edge of said band 14 and the closed end of the terminal cup atoneend of the package is removed, the band 14 in all cases bein stiffenough to prevent unintentional tearing of the covering beyond the oneedge thereof and presenting a relatively stifl edge along which the moreeasily ruptured covering 12 may readily be torn as indicated forinstance at 16. This removal of a portion of the covering 12 asdescribed exposes 'a portion of the upper ends of a number of cups inthe stack, it being under stood, however, that the band 14 is so locatedthat, after the end ortion of the covering 12 has been remove ,the rim11 of the terminal exposed cup 10 is still'within the edge of the band14 along w ich said covering has. been torn. In this condition 6f thepackage the upper edge of the band 14 under its own tension may becaused to turn inward sli htly this effect being increased in degree i'the rubber band 15 or its equivalent is included in the arrangement orif the band 14 itself is made of'elastic material.

The terminal cup 10 may now be freely moved lengthwise of the packageuntilthis movement is resisted by the frictional engagement'of the rim11 of said cup with the inner surface of the wrapper 12 intheneighborhood ofthe band 14, after which said cup may be completelywithdrawn from said package only if a sufiicient pull is exerted thereonto overcome this frictional or other resistance. During this removal ofthe terminal cup, succeeding cups have a tendency to-hang to and followthe terminal cu-p as the latter is being withdrawn, in

which case the rim 11 of the cup lnextto" the end cup being withdrawn,and possibly the corresponding rims of succeeding cups.

will be held by the band 14 or more specifically by that portion of thewrapping 12 ing completely withdrawn from the package.

cases suflicient to maintain all cups followmoval from the package. Anindividual removal of a single cup is thus assured each which registerswith said band whereby any a but the terminal cup is prevented from be-.

The action of the band 14 is in all I ing the ,end cup againstunintentional retime a cup is desired and the remaining cup i are heldin the package without necessitating any careful manipulation to securethis.

proximately equal to the depth of a single cup, so that eventhe finalcup is readily accessible from the open end of the covering when it isdesired to remove said final cup. During thewithdrawalof a cup thepackage may simply be held in one hand while the other hand is used toremove said cup or said package may be" supported in a position. ofready accessibility by suitable fixtures.

It will be understooddif the package is simply held in the hand duringwithdrawal of a cup that the covering, or so much of it as remains afterthe package has been unsealed, in addltlon to its other funct ons servesto protect the cups remaining in the package against contact with thehand of the 1 person removing the terminal cup and thus protects saidcups against contamination from this source. When the package is to beheldin the hand as above suggested, said package may have the form shownin Fig. 4 although the other forms illustrated may also be used in thisway. Ifthe package is intended to be combined with my improved fixturehereinafter described it is preferable to arrange the said package asillustrated in Figs. 2 and 3. My improved fixtures as shown in thedrawings are particularly adapted for this purpose. As illusturecomprises a substantially upright rod or the like 17 which at its oneend carries a head 18, the-latter being either rigidly or detachablyconnected with said rod 17 as may be desired. A plurality of arms 1!;

extend radially and outwardly from said wardly beyond the head 18 toform the resilion the fixture is facilitated. In the form ent extensionindicated at 24 in which case the upper free end of said member24 ispreferably curved outwardly as shown at 25, whereby the placing of thecups in position being described the rod 17 is continued to "form atransverse connecting member 17 which in turn forms an 'integral'part ofa clampingmember 17 the parts bem preferably so proportioned as to bringt 1e rod 17 into axial alinement with the clamping member 17 as shown inFig. 6. In using this form of my improved fixture the pack- 1 age iscombined therewith by placing that end of the package at which thecovering 12 is tucked into the open end of the one terminal cup, overthe arms 20 and members 21. The package is then moved len hwise of saidmembers until the end of sal package is finally seated in the recesses'22 in which condition the enlargements 23 are in frictional engagementwith the outer surface of the package near its lower end while theportion 24 of the extendedmember 21 against'remova engages said packageat a point substantiall in registry with the band 14. In this con itionthe package is firmly supported on the fixture with the cups in aninverted condition, it beingunderstood that the portion 24 of theextended member 21 maintains said package against any substantial dis- 1This extension 24 being resilient may be adjusted to frictionally andresiliently engage the stack of cups and thus aids in holding any cupswhich ma tend to follow during wit idrawal thereof from the package. Inthis of the package or stack the terminal cup manner the unit ispreserved. T e small upturned ends of the other members 21 and theirenlargements 23 maintain the stack of cups asa whole. against an axialmovement while the terminal cup is being withdrawn for use. The bends 20of the fixture by engaging the inner surface of the lowermost cup 10also support thepackage from the interior as will be readily apparent.

The spherical or other enlargements 23 are designed to fit into thespaces between the flanges of adjacent cups and owing to the resiliencyof the members 21 will yield as the stack of cups is inserted inposition on the fixture and also when the last few cups are-withdrawnfrom the package. In

the above indicated type or which is formed by the customary slightlyconcaved shape of such bottles near the bottom thereof. When thuscombined with the container 26 the projection 27 will preventdisplacement of the clampin member 17 in an axial direction during t 1ewithdrawal of a cup or cups from the package. In the combined conditionof the parts the rod 17 projects upwardly above the container 26preferably in substantial axial alinement with the axis thereof so thatthe package of cups is supported in a-position of ready and convenientaccessibility for use when the water is to be withdrawn from thecontainer 26 for drinking or other purposes.

The simple clamping member 17 may be easily combined for instance with awater bottle which in an inverted condition is usually combined with acooler and may be instantly removed from said bottle when the latter isempty and a new bottle is to be substituted. The fixture with theclamping device also supports the cups in a posltion in which they areprotected a ainst jostling dis ocation and I vided with suitableapertures 29 for the accommodation of screws or the like whereby ,saidplate 28 may be fastened to a wall or other supportin element. Thislatter form of my fixture differs from the one first described alSO inthat the members 21" which project from a head 18 and correspond to themembers 21 all extend downwardly to approximately the same point andsimply have the lower free ends bent outwardly and radially as indicatedat 21", said free ends being also preferably provided with spherical orother enlargements 23. The package is placed upon this fixture in thesame way as hereinbefore described, and in its final position has itslower edge resting upon and supported by the outwardly bent portions 21as shown in Fig. 8. In the preferred construction the members 21 arefurther each provided with a transverse bend 21" at an intermediatepoint beneath which ed e 01 the unturned or tucked in portion of theWrapping 12 is adapted to set when the package is combined therewith asclearly illustrated insaid Fig. 8. The said bends 21 in cooperation withthe said inturned portion of the wrapping 12'thus hold the packageagainst removal from the fixture during the withdrawal of a cup for use.This latter form of fixture thus also is adapted to support ,the packagein a position of ready accessibility and to 'firmly hold the same whilethe cups are individually removed therefrom and at other times. will beapparent that the head l8 with its members-21 may be connected withtherod 17 and clamping member 17 and that the head 17 with its members-21may be combined with the rod 17 and plate 28 if desired.

In its various forms the supporting portions of the fixture arepreferably constructed of resilient material and are adjustable toconform to any changes form or dimensions which may occur in differentpackages. My improved package thus provides an eflicient and serviceableprotection for the cups during storage, shipment and use and at the sametime provides a medium whereby an individual removal of each cup asneeded is assured. By having the covering 12 drawn tightly about thecups in a. circumferential direction the flange of the terminal cup atthe exit end of the package in cooperation with said covering seals thepackage at its open end and thus prevents any foreign matter 'fromreaching the cups withy in the package which are thus eflicientlyprotected and covered. It will be understood that the band 1 1oritsequivalent is so located and the package otherwise so arrangedandproportioned that every, cup, even the final one, is easilyaccessibleafter the wrapping or covering has been partially removed,

as before stated. At the same time, my improved fixture provides a meanswhereby the package of cups may be efficiently supported in an operativeposition ]and so as to be easily and readily accessible and so as topre-' vent loss or misplacing of the package.

When supported by the fixtures the cups are further located out of thereach of any drippings from the faucet through which the water iswithdrawn so that the cups are protected against injury from this causeand the fixtures themselves are protected against rusting. v r I Variouschanges in the s ecific form shown and described may be madb within thescope "of the claims without departing from. the

spirit of my invention.

Ic-laimi 1. A package of merchandise comprising a series of nested,flanged cups and a samtary covering therefor composed of a frangible,flexible material and a band circumferentially attached tosaid materialand surrounding, the package whereby the withdrawal of more than one cupat a time is.-

prevented after the package has been opened.

2. A package of merchandise comprising a series of nested, flanged cups,a sanitary paper covering therefor-and a' paper band circumferentiallyattached to said covering wrapped in said 'coverin and'a circumfer-.

entially extending rein orcement on said covering whereby the reinforcedportion of the covering material is brought nearer the axis of thepackage than the unreinforced parts of the covering to arrest a movementa of cups following the movement of a terminal cup out of said package.

4. The combination of a stack of flanged cups, a Wrapper inclosing saidstack and adapted to be" torn'away and means adapted J to restrict thetearing away of the wrapper and to prevent any but a terminal cup frombeing removed from the wrapper after it has tially about said wrapper atan intermediatepoint, said band being arranged torestrict the tearmgawayof the wrapper and to prevent anybut a terminal cup from being removedfrom the wrapper.

6. The combination of a stackof flanged,

cups, a wrapper inclosing said stack and adapted to be torn away, a bandextending circumferentially about said wrapper at an intermediate point,said. band being arranged to restrict the tearing away of the a wrapperand to prevent any but a terminal cup from being removed from thewrapper and means for producing a circumferential tension in the regionof said band.

7. Thecombination of a stack of cu-ps each having an annular rim at theopen end thereof, a wrapper inclo'sing said stack and.

adapted to be torn away, and means, for re-' stricting the tearing awayof said wrapper whereby one or more cups are exposed in an invertedcondition, said. means being an said series of cups and'folded over theclosed 8. The combination of a series of nested, flangedcups, a sanitarycovering inclosir'ig end of one terminal cup and tucked into'the 0 enend of the other terminal cup and a band circumferentially attached tosaid material whereby the withdrawal of more than one cup at a time isprevented. I

9. The combination of a series of nested, flanged cups, a protecting capextending over the open end of the one terminal cup, a sanitary coveringinclosing said series of cups and having its one end portion folded 10over the closed end of the one terminal cup and its other end portioncombined with said cap, and a band circumfe'rentially attached to saidmaterial whereby the withdrawal of more than one cup at a time isprevented.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

CHARLES ERRET'T.

